‘Doctor Strange’ Star Benedict Cumberbatch Is On The Cover Of ‘Entertainment Weekly’

Doctor Strange star Benedict Cumberbatch is once again on the cover of Entertainment Weekly but this time, he’s sporting a cape instead of a coat.

The latest issue of Entertainment Weekly features Benedict Cumberbatch as the Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Strange. The English actor is garbed in a cape and clothes befitting that of a Tibetan monk and he certainly looks the part of the most powerful sorcerer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

This isn’t Cumberbatch’s first EW cover. The English actor graced the magazine’s cover several months ago before the start of the third season of BBC’s Sherlock.

Back then the actor sported a long coat and shared the cover with co-star Martin Freeman. But this time, the star of The Imitation Game stands alone and is wearing an outfit that doesn’t seem apt for the modern world.

Cumberbatch joins the list of actors who have portrayed comic book characters for the big screen. In Doctor Strange, Cumberbatch plays Stephen Strange, a well-respected surgeon who suffers a tragic accident leaving him with severely wounded hands.

His injury prevents him from practicing surgery ever again, and as a result, the good doctor travels to faraway lands searching for a new way to be of use to anyone.

That search will lead him to a place where he will learn magic and mysticism that would eventually turn him into the Sorcerer Supreme.

Exclusive: Benedict Cumberbatch travels to a very weird dimension in this #DoctorStrange image: https://t.co/dtFkeRBijq ? pic.twitter.com/7sktrsTDmh

— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) October 12, 2016

A glimpse of what’s to come

The latest addition to the MCU is set to hit theaters on November 4, but some lucky fans were already able to see a few scenes from the movie.

Cinemablend was present at one of the screenings in Los Angeles, and they shared some details about the upcoming film.

They said that producers of the film showed 15 minutes of footage from the movie, which showed Strange when he was still a working doctor and his accident and his transition to becoming a sorcerer.

The footage shows an extended clip of Strange conversing with the Ancient One, played by Tilda Swinton. The powerful sorceress teaches Strange about the mysteries of the universe, but the skeptical doctor rebuffs her claims until she teaches him a lesson he will never forget.

In one scene, the Ancient One shoves Strange on the chest, and the latter’s soul momentarily leaves his body. Strange undergoes his first out-of-body experience, and after that, he seems to have changed into a true believer.

The footage was quite extensive, and it didn’t just show Strange’s origins, but it also showed why the Sorcerer Supreme and his allies are necessary safeguards to the world despite the Avengers already existing to take care of most of the global threats.

In the 15-minute clip, Strange meets one of the Ancient One’s disciples called Wong, who is played by Prometheus actor Benedict Wong.

Wong explains to Strange that there are different kinds of threats to the world and though the Avengers are there to protect humankind from physical dangers the Ancient One’s disciples are responsible for guarding everyone from mystical threats.

So the Avengers’ fight against evil robots and aliens bent on ruling the world, while Doctor Strange and his allies protect everyone else from supernatural threats.

The footage also featured other characters in the film, such as Christine Palmer, played by Rachel McAdams. Palmer is also a surgeon who worked closely with Strange and the footage they showed indicated that the two doctors may have had an intimate relationship before.

Finally, no superhero will be complete without a supervillain, and the movie’s main antagonist is Kaecilius, played by Hannibal star Mads Mikkelsen. Kaecilius’ introduction in the footage showed the audience what he intends to do to Strange and the whole world.

It seems that the disgruntled sorcerer has more on his mind than a simple “take over the world” agenda. According to the evil sorcerer, he plans on destroying the world along with Strange and his allies. Fortunately, Doctor Strange seems capable of going toe-to-toe with his nemesis.

Doctor Strange will hit theaters on November 4.

[Featured Image by XPX/STAR MAX/IPx/AP Images]